Diclaimer: Don't own them. Sigh.
A/N: So. Don't you hate it when your muse makes a liar out of you? Yeah. I said be patient. Had no idea I would finish chapter five an hour later.
So I got my first bad review. Heehee. Made me laugh. Don't like it? Don't read it.
So there.
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Remus gazed at her for a long time, indecision playing over his face. Then he sighed. Did he really want to be alone tonight? And could he really leave her alone in this room?
He looked into her anxious, hopeful eyes. "Scoot over."
She gave him a tremulous smile and shifted over. He moved to the head of the bed, settling beside her. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he urged her closer.
Tonks inched closer, resting her head on his shoulder, laying her hand over his heart.
"Are you ok?" He asked softly when she shivered.
She nodded. "Yeah. Just spooked."
He lifted his hand and started stroking her hair, which was longer than usual and a normal color for once. "It's ok. I don't think that will happen again. At least not tonight."
"So, what was that?" She asked.
He continued stroking her hair. "A residual psychic manifestation, I think."
"Um, ok, Professor." She said with a touch of her old humor back.
"Like a ghost." He explained. "Sometimes traumatic events can haunt a place, playing over again like a recording."
She shuddered. "So, that… that really happened to Sirius?"
He nodded, his eyes bleak. "That was just before he went to live with James. I knew there had been a fight, but he never told me it was bad."
"Poor Sirius." She murmured, shifting in his arms to nuzzle her nose against the side of his neck.
He lowered his head to bury his nose in her hair. Poor Sirius. Betrayed, battered and unbroken. And now he was gone. Torn from this world, leaving the people who loved him grieving.
"Poor Remus." Tonks whispered. "You miss him, don't you?"
He nodded, not trusting his voice.
She tilted her head back to look into his face. "He loved you, you know."
"I know." It pained him to say it.
"He wouldn't want you to mourn him." She continued. "He would want you to be happy."
Happy. How could he be? He was lost. Drifting without a place in the world. Or was he? Despite the shock of seeing the spectre of Sirius' past, despite the coming full moon, he felt… content?
"I want you to be happy, too, Remus."
He looked into her changeable eyes. "Are you happy?" He asked.
She looked thoughtful. "I think so. I have work I like, friends…" She paused. "You."
He couldn't face the emotions in her eyes, written on her face. He looked away. Could it really be that simple?
A slender hand slid over his cheek, turning his head. "Remus."
He forced a smile. "Tonks."
She patted his cheek. "The full moon is coming."
It was almost as if she had stabbed him. He jerked reflexively against the pain in his heart. "Yes."
"I want to be with you for it."
His chest constricted. "Why?"
"Because I care about you. Because I don't want you to be alone."
He bent his head and kissed her. "That's sweet, Nymphadora, but I don't think it's a good idea."
"Don't be silly. It'll be fine."
"I'll think about it." He replied.
She yawned. She couldn't force him to let her be with him on the full moon. It wasn't as if he was obligated to her at all.
But, he was here now. He had stayed when she asked him to. She snuggled closer to him, letting her hand drop to his heart once more. She cherished the feel of his arm around her, the beat of his heart under her hand. She felt safe.
She felt him heave a sigh. "Remus?" She asked softly.
"Yes, Nymphadora?" Her replied, his voice equally soft.
"Are you happy?"
He was silent for so long, she thought he either had fallen asleep, or just wasn't going to answer her. Then his hand brushed over her cheek.
"I think… right here, right now, I could be." He whispered.
It wasn't much of an answer. He had such an elegant way of skirting a response when he wanted.
She told herself to be thankful for what she had. It was more than she had ever hoped for. Him holding her. Here in her bed. That could be enough for now.
She closed her eyes. "Good night, Remus."
"Good night Nymphadora." He whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
***
Remus woke enveloped by Nymphadora. She lay draped over his chest, her legs tangled with his, her arms wrapped around him. He remained still, wanting to savor the feeling. It was, he mused, one of the best ways to wake up.
Her scent was heavy in his nose, causing a warm thrill to course through him. He wondered if it would still affect him the same thirty years down the road. He knew in his heart it would.
Somewhere along the line, with hardly any time alone with her and just a couple of kisses, he had fallen.
It came as a bit of a surprise. He knew it was foolish and reckless to care so much about anyone in these dangerous times. He, of all people, knew that. And he didn't care.
She murmured in her sleep and shifted fitfully. He tightened his arms around her protectively. "Shh. It's okay." He whispered.
She woke at the sound of his voice, sighing and stretching, her legs sliding along his, her arms squeezing then relaxing.
Gazing down at her young face, he watched as her eyes blinked open. A dark cloudy blue, they met his and held. Her lips curved.
"Morning." She greeted softly.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked.
"Mmm. I did." She stretched again, shifting so that she lay even more on top of him. "I could get used to this."
He smoothed his hand down her slim back and up again.
Like a cat, she arched into the caress. "Definitely could get used to this."
Ok, duckies. Here we go… To shag or not to shag? That is the question.